An ongoing cruelty crisis across West Yorkshire saw more than 100 reports of abandoned animals every single day in 2021.

That figure is set to rise throughout this year, the RSPCA has warned, as people struggle to afford pet food and care amid the cost of living crisis.

Meanwhile people who bought a pet during the pandemic are finding it difficult to fit their new family member into busy non-lockdown schedules.

Dermot Murphy, chief inspectorate officer at the RSPCA, said: “The idea of putting your cat in a cat carrier and taking them to a secluded spot in the woods before walking away, or chucking your dog out of the car and driving off leaving them desperately running behind the vehicle, is absolutely unthinkable and heartbreaking to most pet owners - but sadly we are seeing animals callously abandoned like this every single day.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: RSPCA deputy chief inspector Sara Jordan with little Tippy, the only surviving puppy out of a pack of 11 dumped in a rubbish bag in Huddersfield. Picture: RSPCARSPCA deputy chief inspector Sara Jordan with little Tippy, the only surviving puppy out of a pack of 11 dumped in a rubbish bag in Huddersfield. Picture: RSPCA

“We understand that sometimes the unexpected can happen - the pandemic and cost of living crisis proved that - but there is never an excuse to abandon an animal.

“There are always other options for anyone who has fallen on hard times and can no longer afford to keep their pet.”

In 2021, dogs were the most abandoned pet with 14,462 reports of dumped dogs made to the RSPCA last year.

Cats were the second most abandoned pet with 10,051 reports of cats being callously dumped in 2021.

There were also 3,363 abandoned exotic pets reported to the RSPCA, including 1,455 fish and 685 snakes.

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